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VMware vs KVM (CentOS/RedHat/Ubuntu)

post #1 of 11
6/16/12 at 7:05am
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I'm researching virtualisation options for an SME. I know there are a lot of options out there, but I've narrowed the choices down to these two.

Has anyone here had experience of either these two, in a production environment? What's your impression of them?

Many thanks. :-)
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post #2 of 11
6/16/12 at 6:15pm
I am using VMware's ESXi free hypervisor and I really like it. It is very easy to use and seems to have no issues with any operating system or software that I have used on it.

The only problem with ESXi is that the Vsphere client software needed to setup the virtual machines after you install the hypervisor is only for windows OS's.
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post #3 of 11
6/16/12 at 6:24pm
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So...ESXi can't be managed with a browser?
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post #4 of 11
6/16/12 at 6:31pm
If you want to manage VMs through a web browser use something along the lines of ProxMox.

Honestly, the windows app for ESXi is necessary and without it would slow down configuration.
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post #5 of 11
6/16/12 at 10:29pm
OpenVZ + Debian6 = low resource usage and great hypervisor, similar to KVM but you just cant run Windows instances on OpenVZ
Edited by ZFedora - 6/16/12 at 10:34pm
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post #6 of 11
6/17/12 at 2:24pm
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People, thanks for the replies. I found a really great tool called ConVirt, which looks like the absolute business - it's a product for managing KVM-enabled servers. After doing some research and reading some customer cases, it looks like I'll be deploying this to manage my company's infrastructure. smile.gif
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post #7 of 11
6/18/12 at 4:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Syjeklye View Post

I am using VMware's ESXi free hypervisor and I really like it. It is very easy to use and seems to have no issues with any operating system or software that I have used on it.
The only problem with ESXi is that the Vsphere client software needed to setup the virtual machines after you install the hypervisor is only for windows OS's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by parityboy View Post

So...ESXi can't be managed with a browser?

There is a web-based client for vsphere, and it is fairly good, but for best results it is recommended to use the Windows vSphere client to open a console, do your setup, and then just RDP or SSH to the VM's to access them.

Personally, with the support I can get from VMware, it is a very compelling suite (depending upon your config and licensing). VMware also released a neat product called "VSA" which turns your ESXi hosts local storage, into shared clustered storage, negating the need for a SAN for the environment.

..then again I have a VCP for vSphere 5, so I am a little biased, but that is because I know what goes into vSphere, and think its pretty decent.

I've used virtual box some, and Xen, and was never very impressed, but I don't hold a certification or training with either so I cannot comment on how your experiences would be with them.
Edited by trueg50 - 6/18/12 at 4:56am
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post #8 of 11
6/21/12 at 1:17am
I really like it. It is very easy to use and seems to have no issues with any operating system or software that I have used on it.g.gif
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post #9 of 11
6/29/12 at 4:38pm
i've been using ESXi for almost two years now, and really like it. its very stable and it works. Its not a big deal that you need a client to manage it.

OpenVZ is also decent. Try them out for your self and see which one you like.
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post #10 of 11
4/4/13 at 3:01pm
KVM will take you much farther down the road. It is GPL, not proprietary, and not restricted for use. That means you can scale it to your hearts content and use it for business purposes or personal. Scale it to any extent you desire. License model is simple to understand: GPL. It installs on just about any modern server or desktop, laptop hardware. Goes anywhere you want for free. Very flexible and powerful.

ESXi is not free to use as you wish, it is restricted by license and features. It installs only on very specific hardware. I do not believe you can use it in a business enterprise without agreeing to and purchasing a license. 60 days trial. Once you go there, it becomes very expensive quickly. Yes you can do quite a bit with it, but you will be granting the provider specific rights which may not be in your best interests. Read the licensing of related products for details and make sure you have a lawyer or two to help you understand them.
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